Archives for December 2003

‘McGahee has been practicing with the team since Nov. 5. He has been medically cleared to play since that time and has not encountered any swelling or physical problems with his reconstructed left knee. The first couple weeks of practice he was showing slight signs of favoring the knee, particularly at the end of runs. But he has looked strong the past two weeks of practice and has withstood hits from defenders without a problem.’

‘With a month to play starting Sunday at home against the New York Jets, Gray’s defense ranks No. 3 in net yards, yards per play and points allowed. Players make it clear they’ll be disappointed if they don’t finish first. ” To me, the guys we brought in helped the guys we had here and we changed things around from last year,” said Gray, whose unit ranked 20th a year ago at this time. ” This year, the guys came in with enough enthusiasm to say, ‘ Hey, let’s see if we can go where we want to go.’ The hard part is that the record doesn’t show it, but the guys are playing hard and we still have goals to accomplish.”‘

‘”It will be tough playing up in Buffalo, in that weather,” Cowart said: “I was there four years and never played in a snow game. But it was cold. We used to say that when teams from the South came up to play us and then went in at halftime, they wouldn’t want to come back out.”‘

‘It is no coincidence that the Jets defense has made marked improvements in stopping the run since Evans came back two games ago – even though he is still playing a reserve role. The loss of Evans, a passionate player, to a league-mandated substance-abuse suspension was compared by some defensive players to the offense losing a quarterback. With the Jets making a desperate run at the playoffs, Evans and the defense have to keep the pressure on the Bills at Buffalo tomorrow.’

‘”Those guys are huge on their defensive line,” Mawae said. “They can stop anyone when they have a good day. You can’t move them.”‘

‘Curtis Conway is starting to learn what Santana Moss – and Laveranues Coles before him – already know. If you get open, Chad Pennington will find a way to get you the ball.’

‘”Whenever I get asked that question — when people ask why I don’t make good plays, or have the stats I had in Buffalo, my response is, ‘I’m not in Buffalo. I’m in New York.'”‘

‘But now in an ironic twist, a Jets back on his way to Canton is about to step on Buffalo’s field on a December day and run past Simpson. Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Curtis Martin will pass Simpson on the all-time list Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium since he needs just 7 yards to do it.’

‘”In November and December, you should be getting better as a football team,” Edwards said after practice Friday at Hofstra University. “That’s what you always look for as a coach. I think these guys understand that. When you win them in November and December, you become more confident as a team.”‘

‘The Jets, who won seven of their final nine to secure the East title last season, would need to run the table and get some help to grab a wild card slot. New York has a bit more favorable schedule than the Bills with home tilts against New England and Pittsburgh coming up, followed by a season-ending contest in Miami.’

‘McGahee was removed from the reserve/non-football injury list in November, but this is the first week that head coach Greg Williams has considered putting him on the field during a game.’

‘“I feel good and ready to go,” the Buffalo Bills quarterback said Friday after practicing for a second day.’

‘The 2003 number one pick worked with the offense all week in practice which is also a first. He usually worked with the scout team.’

‘“Willis had a good week of work. He practiced with our offense every day this week,” Williams said. “We’ll go down to the final warm-up before we make a decision.”’

‘Contestants will attempt to throw a football into a Tops shopping cart from 20 yards away. The grand prize winner will receive free groceries from Tops as well as a VIP visit to a Bills practice to meet Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the rest of the team.’